Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola did not hide his frustration after Nico González suffered an injury during the FA Cup match against Leyton Orient. The Spanish player had to leave the pitch after just twenty minutes due to a strong blow to the hip, prompting the Catalan coach to strongly criticize English refereeing.

"Welcome to the Premier League and its referees," Guardiola stated in an interview with the BBC after the match. The coach lamented the referees' leniency, especially in games against lower-division teams, where physicality tends to be more intense.

The City boss acknowledged the challenges of playing without VAR in the FA Cup, but insisted that there were several incidents that should have been penalized more strictly. "I know it's harder without VAR, but there were a couple of incidents… I’m saying this because we won, otherwise I would have stayed quiet," said Guardiola, visibly upset by the situation.

Concern over Nico González's condition

Despite Manchester City's victory, Nico González’s injury raises concerns about his fitness and how long he might be sidelined. "I don’t know how serious the blow was, but he couldn’t continue," Guardiola explained, regretting that the young player had to go through this experience in one of his first games with the team.

With a challenging season ahead, City hopes that Nico González’s injury is not serious and that he can return soon. Meanwhile, Guardiola’s comments once again highlight concerns about English refereeing and the physical demands of football in the country, a recurring theme in his press conferences.